It was difficult to be as attentive as he should be when every time he passed by their table they were bickering. Down each other's throats like it was a competition to see who could get the further.
He had learned some important things though. Like the blond's name was Jimin. They were, apparently, dating - and it would be a lie to say that didn't make him feel like someone had reached inside of his chest and taken hold of his heart only to twist it violently. He tried not to hover, to find something to do that would take him across the restaurant, as far away as possible so he wouldn't have to witness what was currently happening. But all there was to do at that point was refill condiments, and that took place at the drink stations. So he was stuck, trapped trying to lose himself in his work while having to hear every single word that came out of either of their mouths.
Luck had never once been on his side, and it definitely wasn't tonight. Because of course he would chose the very moment where the blond would leave to use the rest room to drop off the cheek, intent on making his final impression before high tailing it to the back and trying not to have some kind of failure and disappointment induced panic attack.
"I hope you enjoyed your meal." He was currently gathering the plates, stacking them carefully as he spoke, following his script and never deviating from it.
"Not as much as I enjoyed you." If a plate just so happened to come clattering down onto the table, at least there was no one near by to stare at him for his misstep. And it hadn't broken, so he simply scoped it up and continued on.
"That's -" So totally inappropriate. He was at work and Jungkook's apparent boyfriend was in the bathroom and he couldn't actually believe this was happening to him right now.
"Look at how good you look with my marks all over you." They were dull and faded, the color corrector not covering them as well as it had before. And he tried not to think about how many people had seen them over the course of the night. Especially not when a hand was lifting and fingers were tracing along the bruises that littered his jaw.
"- inappropriate." It was like someone had put him on pause only to suddenly take him off again, and even he wasn't sure why he actually continued that sentence.
"Want me to show you how inappropriate I can be?" That voice had lowered again, and Seokjin wondered if this was all just some game and this was just a role the other was playing.
"Not really." If he were being honest - and he wasn't even being that with himself - the answer would be of course he wanted that. Wanted to be touched and kissed and held. Wanted to be loved. Wanted to be cared for. Wanted to be wanted. But he wasn't being honest, so those thoughts were ignored, despite how much of a struggle it was.
"Forget how good I made you feel already?" Of course he hadn't.
"Did you forget you have a boyfriend already?" It sounded slightly bitter, despite how much he always tried to keep emotion out of his voice.
"Have you seen yourself baby?" He had. And there was nothing special about him. "You're so gorgeous. No one could blame me for wanting you."
"I have a feeling -" But his words were cut off suddenly by the sound of footsteps, and it was only then that he realized those long fingers had remained around his throat, squeezing softly with each word. It shouldn't have felt as natural as it did. And they didn't drop, despite how near Jimin was. But his own body was twisted slightly, leaning inwards towards Jungkook, and he realized that he was probably blocking that particular sight.
"Be a good boy and act like nothing happened." It was practically whispered in his ear, sending a shiver of electric heat running down the length of his spine. He could feel the tips of his ears turning bright red, and reached up to adjust his hair to make sure they were covered. "Everything was wonderful. Thank you, beautiful."
"Could you seriously just stop?" Jimin sounded so done with the entirely situation, a mixture of anger and exhaustion seeping into his voice. "He's not that attractive."
That was something Seokjin already knew. Deep within his heart he was entirely aware that he wasn't actually all that attractive. Sure, the proportions of his face might have been pretty perfect, but that was, in the end, all he really had going for him. His eyes were too large and yet too almond shaped all at the same time. His nose was far too big for his face, slopping downwards into a blunt tip. He would never even get started on his lips, his actual mouth slightly narrow while they were full and pouty. He was already aware of all of his flaws. But it still stung when someone else pointed them out.
Rationally he couldn't actually blame Jimin, despite how much he may have wanted to. He could never blame anyone who hurled insults at him and chipped away at his own self worth. They were right, after all, so why should he try and correct them?
"Have you tried looking in a mirror lately?" What he hadn't been expecting was for Jungkook to speak, to come to his apparent defense. "It looks like you're wearing a wig made out of straw."
"Can we just go?" Crossing his arms over his chest, Jimin even started tapping his foot in his impatience.
"If you're in that much of a hurry you can just walk." Jungkook hadn't even bothered standing up - no, in fact he had even leaned back, seemingly making himself comfortable, like he intended to stick around for as long as it took to win.
"I'll be in the car." Because while he was fully prepared to be petty enough to actually walk, he really didn't feel like ruining his shoes.
"I'm sorry -" Jungkook began as Jimin finally made it out of ear shot, the sound of the chair pushing back as he moved to stand catching his attention more than the words.
"Don't be." He was right. He wanted to say that he was right so badly. But he couldn't. Because he had an image to uphold and he had long since promised himself that he would never let anyone see him be weak. "I'll just cash that out for you."
Snatching up the small book with the check and credit card, he fled back to the nearest drink station, running it slowly, attempting to give himself approximately five seconds to breathe. That was all he needed. Just five seconds to talk himself down.
When he returned he placed the book down in front of the other, waiting patiently as he signed the receipt and took back his card.
"It was nice seeing you again babe." That flirty, dark tone was back, and he felt it flow down all the way to his toes. But it couldn't break through the unending sadness that he felt. It was never nice seeing him. "Maybe I'll come back for you."
It was such a silly concept, and he tried not to allow himself to get excited at the prospect of it.
But it was too late. Because he honestly almost wanted it.
"You don't want that." Taking back the book with the receipt tucked inside, he slipped it into the pocket of his apron before turning around and attempting to make the quickest escape he could.
It was probably time to find a new job.
